To help everyone discover, connect with and remember the stories of those who participated in the American Revolutionary War, we have officially launched the 1776 Badge. This badge will display on memorials throughout this celebration, to honor and remember them.
What is the 1776 badge?
The 1776 badge is a special badge added to memorials of Revolutionary War participants, including soldiers, commanders and other leaders from both sides of the conflict. Thanks to a collaborative effort cross-referencing verified Revolutionary War databases at Ancestry, we have automatically added this badge to thousands of memorials for those who served. This is how the badge is displayed on a memorial. You’ll also see it in memorial search lists.
Ready to explore? You can dive into history right now:
- Search from the 1776 Homepage – Search for memorials that have the 1776 badge added.
- Search from Memorial Search –
- Broaden your search to help find memorials for those who served in the Revolutionary War.
- Under ‘More search options’ you can check the box 1776 to limit your search to memorials that already have the badge.
- Explore Virtual Cemeteries – Browse through virtual cemeteries featuring notable figures in the Revolution.
How You Can Help: Add a Badge Today
This project relies on the power of our incredible community. If you know of a Revolutionary War participant whose memorial is missing the badge, you can add it yourself in just a few quick steps!
How to add the badge:
- Navigate to the participant’s memorial
- Select Edit (or Suggest Edits)
- Scroll down to the Designations section
- Toggle on: ‘Designate this person as an American Revolutionary War participant’
- Select Save Changes
Your Contribution Matters
Every time you add a badge, you aren’t just updating a memorial, you are building a bridge. You’re making it easier for researchers, historians, and descendants to find, track, and honor their ancestral history.
Thank you for your contribution, for helping others discover stories and for ensuring that those participated in the American Revolutionary War are remembered, honored and easily found by everyone!
Happy discovering!
Thanks for adding the badge for those who served in the Revolutionary War. I have found three 4th great-grandfathers who served in the Revolutionary War. I each from North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I am a Member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
How about creating a badge for those who served in other wars such as the War of 1812, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, etc.
Also, how about creating a badge for those who were at Jamestown, Virginia or Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Thanks for your feedback and suggestions. We’ve passed this on. This is a special badge to honor those who served during this celebration of 250 years.
Could you add a badge to Dr. Benjamin Rush. He was a revolutionary veteran and signor of the constitution. Dr. Rush is nine greats descendant of my wife.
Temporary Badges for a limited time is nice, but often many hours of research is needed to provide proof of military Revolutionary War service or by someone providing material aid (as defined by the DAR).
When they are removed at the end of the 250th anniversary, many people and I will be sorely disappointed. Please consider keeping this REVWAR 1776 honor.
Regarding all other wars, the Veteran Status is adequate. Having too many such different war honors will be a burden on memorial managers (like me) and members who feel obligated to do something.
The instructions don’t seem to work on the memorial I just checked. Has this change been rolled out through the entire Find A Grave collection?
This applies to a subset of memorials based on dates. If there is an example of a memorial where the option is not showing and they served in the Revolutionary War, please send the example to feedback@findagrave.com along with details.
I wish it was bigger, you really cannot see the1776 in there
Please define what you mean by Service. Please confirm that the designation is specifically for those who served in the Revolutionary War, and are Veterans of the Revolutionary War because they served. People are starting to get confused thinking it includes people who, for example, signed an Oath of Allegiance, or gave a side of bacon, etc… Please confirm that the designation is for Veterans of the Revolutionary War. I hope that is the intent of this designation.
This is a follow up to my question. Please define what is meant by “participant.” From this Find a Grave announcement: “The 1776 badge is a special badge added to memorials of Revolutionary War participants, including soldiers, commanders and other leaders from both sides of the conflict.” Is this designation for soldiers, commanders and leaders, and not for people who are considered Patriots because they supported the War, for example, by signing an oath of allegiance, or providing food or other goods? I’m hoping it is only for those who served, but as Managers, we all need to know for sure who can be included. Thank you.
Hi Anne, thanks for your question. This badge is for those who served or participated in the Revolutionary War (including soldiers, commanders, leaders). Other examples could be those who provided medical care, cooked for the army, or were otherwise involved in the conflict and substantially served.
Thank you!
But you’re not addressing the crux of the issue. The DAR recognizes as Patriots those who simply paid the supply tax. Is that enough for find-a-grave? What about if they joined a militia and actually trained for the event that the war came to their town but then never actually marched into battle? Is that good enough?
The “Designation” section for the Revolutionary War badge does not appear on the memorial for John R. New #22936890, who was a fifer in the Revolutionary War. He has a Revolutionary War Pension Application and his status was confirmed by the genealogist at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. How can this be remedied.
According to this memorial, John R. New was born in 1788. The Rev. War Pension application looks to be for his father.
If a memorial manager declines the 1776 designation, even with confirmation in the bio, will Find a Grave be willing to make the designation?
If the source wasn’t sent in a note originally, we may ask that the source be sent in another suggested edit. But if the sourced edit is declined and the reason doesn’t seem valid, then you could send it in along with your evidence and our support team will review the situation and see what can be done.
Thank you.
Should I send it to support@findagrave.com?
You can send it through our contact us form, thank you!
My original question has been satisfactorily resolved, but I didn’t see a procedure to start a new thread.
Is this designation appropriate for a loyalist that fought against the American cause?
This designation should be a permanent change.
Isn’t Find A Grave intended to honor memorials for persons from EVERY country? Once again, American arrogance demonstrates lack of global awareness. There have been opportunities for equivalent badges for participants of important historic events in other countries, yet no evidence of such exists. Great job being inclusive for ALL contributors.
Thanks for your message. These 1776 badges are something we are testing out. We’ll see how they go and if we can find a good way to expand to different types of events, honors, etc. We can’t create special badges for all these things, but we hope we can come up with a good way to do something similar on a broader scale.
I’m sure the British Loyalist ancestors who participated on the other side of the American revolutionary war would turn over in their grave if a stars and stripes badge was placed next to their name. I believe this is a bad idea and possibly hurtful to Loyalists’ descendants. Just stick to the Veterans badge which doesn’t favour a side.
Personally, I approve this addition. I have 2 Revolutionary War Patriots whose graves are marked by memorial markers provided by the DAR and proved by many hours of research.
I worked hard to get them placed on their graves. The fact that FindAGrave choses to recognize them further makes me quite happy. Thank you very much from a 25 year member of FindAGrave!
112936072 Could use the Rev War soldier desigintion
Thanks. It looks like someone has suggested the addition of the 1776 tag for this memorial through the “Suggest Edits.”
I hope the badges stay after our 250th anniversary. I am busy entering my ancestors. I just want to know that the badges are going to stay on the FindAGrave sites.
I’ve got 3 dozen+ Revolutionary War vets, you are 100% correct… this 1776 badge should be permanent!
My ancestor, Elisha Crisman, is buried at the Methodist cemetery near Guthrieville, PA. [Originally Battens Burying Ground] There is no stone, but he is listed on the plat and mentioned as a soldier in the ‘Pennsylvania Series’. He is not shown on Find-a-Grave. How can this be remedied?
If you know where someone is buried and have other details about them, you can create a memorial for the on Find a Grave. Go to the cemetery page on the site and click “Add a Memorial” to get started.
Join Find A Grave (It’s free)… then you can create as many memorial profiles as you can… you will become manager of those profiles created! If the cemetery does not exist at Find A Grave, you can and should create the cemetery page at too!
I have found, confirmed, and researched the Revolutionary War service of 89 relatives. Recognizing their service is admirable, but the badges need to be permanent to warrant the time involved in going through the edit process for each one.
Well put… sure hope F.A.G. management is listening! DJ Paul
Just had a 1776 badge denied in spite of my message referring to the current DAR record for the patriot. Denial was based on a Pennsylvania chapter SAR website as “not a veteran”. What is the criteria per Find A Grave?
Prior messages said the badge is for those who served or participated in the Rev. War. Other examples could be those who provided medical car, cooked for the army or were otherwise involved in the conflict and substantially served. So I read that as those who just sign oath of allig., paid a supply tax or gave food does not count.
Some Find A Grave managers are what should be classified as “troubled/troubling contributors.” I suspect it is the memorial page manager/creator… not Find A Grave management who denied the banner. But Find A Grave management does have issues with many memorial managers who establish their own criteria for upgrading profiles they “manage.”
True.
I almost think that it would be better that all badges become icons and can be placed like flowers. Separate from the actual memorial.
I have seen memorial managers abuse the Veteran & 1776 badges. One thought it was funny to lower the birth year, save, add the 1776 badge, save, restore the birth year, save, then joke about what they did.
Another memorial manger thinks that if someone registered for the draft – then they served and should be listed as a veteran. And over 50 memorials were made under this belief.
I also believe that if a person served, their effort should be documented in the bio section. But that is my belief only.
If you decide to include other American wars and make theses badges permanent, please include the French and Indian War as well. My 8th great grandfather, Obidiah Johnson Sr., fought in that war and his son, my 7th great grandfather, Obidiah Johnson Jr., fought in the Revolutionary War.
It’s true! Many younger Colonial Veterans of the French and Indian War are also Veterans of the Revolutionary War… this is a great comment worthy of serious consideration by management. Not sure why this very find suggestion is not already implemented. The same is frequently true with WWI/WWII and with WWII/Korea/Vietnam… people with 20-30+ years service have frtequently fought in various multiple Colonial/USA wars.
Thank you for your response and thank you for your service to our country. In my haste, I misspelled my grandfather’s first name. Out of respect to them, they were Obadiah.
The Veteran badge is something for anyone who has served. This regardless of time, gender or place. I encourage everyone to list how the person is a veteran in the bio section.
The 1776 Badge is an unique chance to celebrate the 250th Anniversary. At this time it is temporary. And maybe it can be made permanent.
The problem with more badges becomes confusion. Already some administrators are removing the Veteran badge when engaging the 1776 one.
Imagine a American Civil War Badge. Will the CSA have the Stars & Bars flag and the Union Troops Stars & Stripes? Or would it be a dual badge with both flags? How many minorities will protest the Stars & Bars?
Imagine the same thing with the various Indian Wars from the 1840s to say 1900. How many native Americans will protest the attempted genocide?
I served during the later part of the Vietnam War. I remember being spit upon and called a baby killer by anti-war protestors. After I die, I hope someone will create my Find A Grave Memorial and enable the Veteran Badge.
And imagine if Find A Grave starts occupation badges. I served in the US Army and I did a career as a Peace Officer. I was also a Search & Rescue operator & volunteered as a lay-minister for many years. Imagine how quickly this could get out of hand.
And I have seen the 1776 Badge on one memorial where the person was clearly born after 1785. Apparently they made him younger then saved their work. Then they claimed the 1776 badge and later restored the true birth year. When I asked the administrator why they honestly stated they want to see what would happened. I encouraged them to remove the 1776 and that I have book marked the memorial. If it does not change, I will report it.
In addition, I have seen several instances of the Veteran Badge being placed because the person registered for the draft. I have tried to explain to them that is not serving in the military. One person refused to remove it and later when I checked on the memorial … it was deleted.
Does Find A Grave really want to become a badge arbitrator and jury?
I almost think that it would be better that all badges become icons and can be placed like flowers. Separate from the actual memorial.
I think that it would be better that all badges become icons and can be placed like flowers. Separate from the actual memorial.
I have seen memorial managers abuse the Veteran & 1776 badges already.
One memorial manager refuses to place the 1776 badge. The reason is that their ancestors were Loyalists. And the ancestors who fought against the Crown are veterans, like the Loyalist ancestors are veterans. But that person refuses to place the 1776 badge. A quirk? Likely, but they really does good genealogical research.
One manager thought it was funny to lower the birth year, save, add the 1776 badge, save, restore the birth year, save, then joke about what they did. I have asked them to delete the 1776 badge now that they had their fun. We shall see what happens.
Another memorial manger thought that if someone registered for the draft – then they served and should be listed as a veteran. And over 50 memorials were made under this belief. I seriously doubt they went back and fixed them all after I explained that signing up for the was a civil act and not in anyway serving in the military.
I also believe that if a person served, their effort should be documented in the bio section. But that is my belief only.
In summary, I think that it would be better that all badges become icons and can be placed like flowers. And members can make icons and donate them.
I like the 1776 designation a lot but when does Find a Grave consider the end of the America 250 celebration to end? I have several edit requests submitted that haven’t yet been picked up by the managers. If I have a choice in the matter, I would prefer this designation to be permanent and not just temporary. It might be nice to also have designations for other wars as well. Thank you.
Well if the Revolutionary War ended in 1783 technically the America250 Celebration should run to 2033. 😃
It’s too bad that the 1776 designation doesn’t print with the memorial page nor does it show up when the page is saved as a pdf … would’ve been nice. Thank you.
Not enough pre-announcement thought given to the entire “1776” badge matter, sure hope someone, if any, at Find a Grave (FG) management/support looks at the many very fine comments & suggestions by caring Find a Grave contributors. Got to admit, seems like the replies are AI generated… is anyone home at FG support?
Thanks for your message. Yes, we are home, or rather, at work.
OK, Great! Thanx. djp
As a veteran myself, I am all for recognizing Revolutionary War veterans. They are just as important as those who served in the Civil War and others up to and including whats happening in the middle east. Remember, all gave some, but some gave all!!
What I do oppose are people who post excessive flower or symbols on the same site weekly. Its like they got a contest going for who can have the highest number next to their profile. I had a friend who had someone posting 19 flowers in 30 days. That dude was averaging over 400 flower memorials per month. Who has time for that?? Why would anyone do that? What do they win in their contest? Its wasted space on the website too.
I would like to suggest adding a patriot to the Revolutionary War roles, please. Her name is Margaret Catherine “Kate” Moore Barry, and she participated as a voluntary spy and scout for Gen. Daniel Morgan. She is considered a Heroine of the Battle of the Cowpens in 1781 near Spartanburg, SC. Please refer to the website for the Kate Barry Chapter of the DAR (https://www.scdar.org/kate-barry) for additional information. Kate was my 6x great-grandmother.
You can suggest adding the badge to a memorial using the “Suggest Edits” button.
Is there a way to add the badges to our Ancestry tree without adding all the information that you have on the person? The badge would be great to have on Ancestry without adding all the information that might conflict with what I have in my tree already.
FYI – Many members who have Ancestry Tree make their own icon or use a picture indicating their ancestor was in the American Revolution War. Or in the service or a peace officer or in the Army, the Navy, USMC or Coast Guard.
This link has a few REVWAR images to use.